may ever hope to define a spirit so gracious, an order so
benign, an influence so prophetic of the present and future upbuilding
of the race.

There is a common notion that Masonry is a secret society, and this
idea is based on the secret rites used in its initiations, and the
signs and grips by which its members recognize each other. Thus it has
come to pass that the main aims of the Order are assumed to be a
secret policy or teaching,[166] whereas _its one great secret is that
it has no secret_. Its principles are published abroad in its
writings; its purposes and laws are known, and the times and places of
its meetings. Having come down from dark days of persecution, when all
the finer things sought the protection of seclusion, if it still
adheres to secret rites, it is not in order to hide the truth, but the
better to teach it more impressively, to train men in its pure
service, and to promote union and amity upon earth. Its signs and
grips serve as a kind of universal language, and still more as a
gracious cover for the practice of sweet charity--making it easier to
help a fellow man in dire plight without hurting his self-respect. If
a few are attracted to it by curiosity, all remain to pray, finding
themselves members of a great historic fellowship of the seekers and
finders of God.[167] It is old because it is true; had it been false
it would have perished long ago. When all men practice its simple
precepts, the innocent secrets of Masonry will be laid bare, its
mission accomplished, and its labor done.

II

Recalling the emphasis of the foregoing pages, it need hardly be added
that Masonry is in no sense a political party, still less a society
organized for social agitation. Indeed, because Masonry stands apart
from partisan feud and particular plans of social reform, she has been
held up to ridicule equally by the unthinking, the ambitious, and the
impatient. Her critics on this side are of two kinds. There are those
who hold that the humanitarian ideal is an error, maintaining that
human nature has no moral aptitude, and can be saved only by
submission to a definite system of dogma. Then there are those who
look for salvation solely in political action and social agitation,
who live in the delusion that man can be made better by passing laws
and counting votes, and to whom Masonry has nothing to offer because
in its ranks it permits no politics, much less party rancor. Advocates
of the first view have f